Griezmann Scores as Atletico Madrid Beats Levante, Stays Second

Antoine Griezmann ensured that Atletico Madrid kept the pressure on Barcelona by scoring its sole goal in a 1-0 win over Levante at home on Sunday.

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) Antoine Griezmann ensured that Atletico Madrid kept the pressure on Barcelona by scoring its sole goal in a 1-0 win over Levante at home on Sunday.

Second-place Atletico remained unbeaten in 16 consecutive rounds of the Spanish league and stayed in the hunt behind Barcelona. 

Griezmann scored his team-leading ninth league goal of the season when he fired a spot kick over Levante goalkeeper Oier Olazabal in the 57th minute following a handball by defender Nikola Vukcevic.

Atletico dominated possession and the scoring chances but its lack of finishing touch meant it needed goalkeeper Jan Oblak to block a shot by Jose Morales in the 70th to guarantee the victory.

We won't get bored of hearing you play guitar, @AntoGriezmann!
🎸➡⚽ #AúpaAtleti #AtletiLevante pic.twitter.com/9T14N7FLQO

— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) January 13, 2019

The hosts thought they scored early through Jorge ''Koke'' Resurreccion, but the referee waived his goal off because of a foul at the start of the attack that he spotted during a video review.

Atletico defender Stefan Savic had to be substituted before 10 minutes were up due to muscle pain in his left thigh.